Weird Doggie Behaviour. Help wanted.

[Guest Low Roller]

I don't have a dog. I don't know what I'm talking about.

[Basher]

You will need one of these:

[Schwa.]

[phishtaper]

yeah, sure sounds like there is something there only at night that is scarying her. the more you can normalize the event, the better, i think. maybe tempt her outside with a treat? distract her a bit. let us know how she progresses.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

after a quick googling

more articles

[Kanada Kev]

someone posted awhile ago that it was a good idea to play with the dog when a scary thing is going on (the post was about thunder). maybe playing with her at that time outside might help too?

Yup, that was me. It's worth a try. Get some treats, her favourite toys and get out there and play late at night. After that, all you'll have to deal with is breaking the fact that you are going to go outside with her every time.

I always let my dogs out in the back yard before bed and it spooks me sometimes because they tend to "see" or "hear" things. I keep thinking it's going to be a skunk or something.

[phishtaper]

I keep thinking it's going to be a skunk or something.

it HAS been a skunk several times for us now. not fun. scrub with toothpaste to remove spray.

[Kanada Kev]

HAS been a skunk several times for us now. not fun. scrub with toothpaste to remove spray.

I'd prefer to be sprayed by this kind of skunk

[meggo]

hey sharon! if you're interested, we have a couple of seasons of cesar on DVD. they're usually entertaining at least!

[Patchoulia]

From the Best of Craigslist...I thought it apropos to this thread, instead of the "Best of Craigslist" specific thread...

Note to the dogs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 2007-08-16, 1:43PM CDT

Dear Dogs of Mine,

It seems that lately things have gotten a smidge slack around here. I feel it is time to remind you of the rules that heretofore we have operated under. You are both cute dogs, but your continued cuteness in no way negates our previous agreement. Let me remind you of a few details of this agreement.

1. In exchange for room and board, you are to guard the kingdom. That would be guarding the kingdom from any and all bad guys, robbers, serial killers, etc. Feel free to bark maniacally at any of those that should appear in the yard. Guarding the kingdom does NOT include barking maniacally at bunnies, squirrels, cows, sheep and invisible things that only you can see, especially between the hours of 5am (when I stumble out of bed to let you out) and 8am (when I actually have to be out of bed to get to work).

(And let me take a moment here to remind you that the pizza guy is a potential bad guy. He is not your friend. Just because he comes bearing food does not allow him free and easy access to the kingdom. He is potentially way more dangerous than the bunnies that you threaten to tear limb from limb.)

2. All of the stuff that lives in the toy basket is yours. Everything else is mine. Yours includes squeaky balls, random bones, partially unstuffed stuffed animals and chew ropes. Mine includes any and all shoes on the floor (especially the expensive leather ones), underwear that missed the hamper, bras, socks, dishtowels, the remote, the cell phone, the legs of my grandmother's antique chair and the vacuum. Did I mention shoes? ALL the shoes are mine. They come in pairs, not quads, for a reason.

3. The cat gets to sleep on the bed. You do not. You each weigh 50 pounds. The cat weighs 12. You sleep smack dab in the middle of the bed with all four feet spread out covering approximately 12 square feet apiece. The cat sleeps in a neat little ball covering about 2 square feet. The cat does not bring fleas into the house. You do. You, dogs, will never be allowed to sleep on the bed. Quit sneaking up when you think I'm not looking. Your 50 pounds of dogginess negates your stealth superpowers. I know you are up there!!

4. Speaking of the cat- when he hunkers down into that little mound, lays his ears back, squints his eyes and growls way back in his chest, HE IS NOT A HAPPY KITTY. Leave him alone. He does not want to play with you. What he wants to do is poke your eyes out and shread the skin around your face. He can do that, you know. Five of his 6 ends are really sharp and pointy. He has previously shown very little restraint. Clearly he enjoys smacking you upside the head with a paw full of claws. Do not aggrevate him. When he takes your head off after you have cornered him, I will let him. You have been forewarned.

5. The cat is mean. He will lead you down a path to destruction. He likes to tear around the house winding you up. He does this knowingly and intentionally. When you chase him, I will only yell at you for careening into walls and furniture. He knows this. Quit falling for it.

6. If you find something in the garbage can, assume that I intend for it to be there. Platic tampon shells are not chew toys. Don't eat them.

7. Also not for doggy consumption- anything you find in the litter box. This is why you no longer get to kiss me.

8. You are allowed to sleep on the furniture. You are not allowed to eat the furniture.

9. Yes, I have to leave every day to go to work. No, you cannot go with me. That's why there are two of you, so you can entertain each other. The cat gets to stay in the house. You both have to stay outside while I'm gone. The cat does not chew things up. You do. Quit whining about it. Your porch is air-conditioned. It's just like inside the house minus the sofa. If you'd quit chewing up dog beds, it would be just like inside the house. You have made your own proverbial bed by destroying two very expensive dog cushions.

10. I have opposable thumbs. This is why I get to be in charge. I can open cans, doors, and bags of treats. I am the only one in the house that can operate the hose sprayer. I'm also the only one with a driver's license and a car. I win. Being cute is no match for opposable thumbs.

While I in no way wish to suppress your rightful dogginess, I feel that these very simple guidelines will allow us to continue to co-exist in peaceful harmony. Please know though, that should you choose to continue in willful violation of these rules, I WILL PUT THE CAT IN CHARGE. He has just been itching for a position in management.

Much thanks,

The Human

[traveler]

My dog go's crazy when she smells raccoon. She chases down the scent like a mad dog. Would'nt want her to catch one.

Your dog may need to get to know the niehbourhood.

Spend some time in the yard together before bed.

My dog,Roots turned 14 this month.

Ceaser always teachs the owner first.

[Ms.Huxtable]

I enticed her outside with a treat she can't refuse last night... cheese! She went outside without any problem and didn't seem nearly as scared. We played some tricks for more treats which seemed to distract her from fear, but she didn't vear far from us and she took her sweet bloody time doing her business. I don't think she understood it was potty time.

Progress.

[Kanada Kev]

Good signs .. right on.

Definitely give her a treat when she does her "business" too We used a verbal command to get ours to go too, they then get used to hearing it and remember why they are outside at that time. We used "HURRY UP, FIND A SPOT" (in a very friendly tone, of course).

Keep working on it. Sounds like you're on the right course.

woof

[mattm]

throw a raw steak on the ground a couple feet out into the yard and see what happens. No dog could be scared with that smell around.

That being said, she'll get used to it over time and nothing happening (so make damn sure she doesn't get into a fight with a raccoon). She's probably just scared of new smells. Mix in there the raccoons and she doesn't like it so much but after a while hers and your scents will be all over the place, stronger than the raccoons and anything else and she'll be fine. A lot of animals are like this when they relocate, though bigger dogs are usually fine with it since they can take out most things that would attack them. Then again, most little dogs I've run into share that same opinion I think. Either way, she'll get better and start going outside, you just have to wait a bit for her to get used to all the new smells and to propagate her smell.

Another thing, get her to pee all over the place during the day when she'll go outside, make sure she spreads it around and marks that territory good. Eventually that will outrank racoon or mike pee and all will be well.

[meggo]

we are also having a problem with our pup. we have had her for two months now and she still pees all over the place!! my last dog was so easy to train and we have done lots of reading on the subject but so far it is to no avail.

we think part of the problem might be that we have to go downstairs to take her out, because when we were cottaging she was starting to cry at the door. maybe she's not making the connection that our door = outside because there's the stairs in between?

we even have these jingley bells hanging beside the door which we make her ring every time she goes out to try and get her in that habit but that's not working either.

help! i'm tired of cleaning up pee!!

[poos are not generally a problem as they're much less frequent!]

[traveler]

I think I would take meggo's dog for a short walk every hour. Then extend it to 1 1/2. Then two hours. It'll get the idea fast and no pee to clean up.

[traveler]

Okay heres my question: Why does my dog always dump her bowl of food all over the floor and try to bury it, when I'm not home?

[bouche]

shitty food?

[Ol'Hickster]

Just like a kid passing the veggies to the dog it must be trying to pass it on the the mice!

[Ms.Huxtable]

An update should anyone care. Our doggie seems to be cured of her night time fear. We took the approach of going out with her with treats and playing a bit. She seems to have forgotten whatever it was that spooked her.

Yay Abbey!

[headymamamyrna]

Good to hear.

[Kanada Kev]

Congrats!! That didn't take long. As long as their trusty owner(s) are around and having fun, dogs are happy

[Cosmic ChrisC]

Hey, maybe your doggie saw a cougar in your backyard (the animal, that is). Don't you live kinda close to Gatineau Park:

http://www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16297-16299-10170-49685-49889-49894-87405&new=yes〈=1

[Ms.Huxtable]

The cougar should keep on its way. In the event of an attack, you must be aggressive and counterattack.

Whoa.

I used to be afraid of the people in my old neighborhood so we moved to the trees. Now I'm afraid of the animals!

[Cosmic ChrisC]

Yeah, how does one couterattack in this situation?? Do we just say "Grrr", with our arms in the air or something? I don't think i could counterattack!